Vehicular heat source unit

Abstract

To provide a vehicular heat source unit suitable for being arranged in a vehicle front chamber.SOLUTION: A vehicular heat source unit (17) which can be arranged in a vehicle front chamber (BR) of a vehicle (11) includes a hot water pump (31), a refrigerant condenser (22), a hot water heater (32), a hot water liquid tank (34), and a longitudinal-shaped longitudinal structure (18). An uppermost section of each of the hot water pump (31), the refrigerant condenser (22), the hot water heater (32), and the hot water liquid tank (34) is positioned at the same position by defining a plane (P3) including an uppermost section (18a) of the longitudinal structure (18) and a vertical direction as references or positioned below the plane (P3).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat source unit for a vehicle, which is a heat source for hot water that heats air in a vehicle compartment. [Background technology]

[0002] A vehicle is provided with an air conditioner that has functions such as heating and cooling and can condition the air in the vehicle compartment. In general, the air conditioner has an air heating heat exchanger that can heat the air to be blown into the vehicle compartment. The air heating heat exchanger exchanges heat between the air to be blown into the vehicle compartment and hot water, which is a heat medium.

[0003] The hot water circuit through which hot water flows is equipped with a hot water pump that pumps out the hot water, a refrigerant condenser that exchanges heat between the hot water and a refrigerant, and a hot water heater that can further heat the hot water heated by the refrigerant condenser.

[0004] When mounting a hot water pump, a refrigerant condenser, and a hot water heater on a vehicle, it is possible to unitize them, for example, as a heat source unit that serves as a heat source for hot water. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology relating to the unitization of multiple devices, and Patent Document 2 discloses a technology relating to the structure of the vehicle front compartment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Pat. No. 1,144,0376 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2022-178261

[0006] Patent Document 1 discloses a unit device that is configured by assembling together a compressor, a refrigerant condenser, a refrigerant expansion device, an evaporator, etc. This unit device is a block-shaped mass overall that has a certain size in all directions.

[0007] As shown in Patent Document 2, a pedestrian protection airbag may be installed at the rear of the bonnet of a vehicle to cushion the impact of the pedestrian striking the bonnet during a collision between the vehicle and the pedestrian. The pedestrian protection airbag is disposed immediately below the bonnet because it must be deployed upwards quickly during a collision. In other words, the pedestrian protection airbag is disposed at the upper rear of the front compartment of the vehicle.

[0008] Even when a pedestrian protection airbag is not installed, a cowl extending in the vehicle width direction may be provided between the rear of the vehicle hood and the front windshield, as shown in Patent Document 2. The cowl is provided with a windshield wiper and an outside air intake for an air conditioning device disposed in the passenger compartment, and is disposed at the upper rear of the vehicle front compartment, similar to the pedestrian protection airbag. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Considering that devices and components that are long in the width direction of the vehicle, such as pedestrian airbags and cowls, are generally installed in the upper rear area of ​​the front compartment of a vehicle, a block-shaped unit with a specified size in all directions, such as that described in Patent Document 1, cannot be said to be an optimal structure and there is room for improvement.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a heat source unit for a vehicle that is suitable for placement in the front compartment of a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] First, a vehicle heat source unit (17) that can be arranged inside a vehicle front room (BR) of a vehicle (11) that is forward of a vehicle compartment (CR) in which passengers board, a hot water device (30a) including: a hot water pump (31) that delivers hot water capable of heating the air to be blown into the vehicle compartment (CR); a refrigerant condenser (22) that performs heat exchange between the hot water and a refrigerant capable of cooling the air to be blown into the vehicle compartment (CR); a hot water heater (32) that can further heat the hot water heated by the refrigerant condenser (22); and a hot water liquid tank (34) that stores a portion of the hot water and separates air bubbles from the hot water; a longitudinal structural body (18, 120, 210) supporting the water heating device (30a), When a plane (P3) including the uppermost part (18a) located at the top of the longitudinal structure (18) and having a normal direction in the vertical direction is used as a reference, A vehicle heat source unit (17, 17A, 17B) is provided in which the top portions (31b, 22b, 32b, 34b) of the hot water pump (31), the refrigerant condenser (22), the hot water heater (32), and the hot water liquid tank (34) are positioned at the same position as the plane (P3) in the vertical direction or below the plane (P3).

[0012] Secondly, preferably, the vehicle heat source unit (17, 17A, 17B) according to the first aspect, a refrigerant liquid tank (27) that stores a portion of the refrigerant and separates the gaseous refrigerant from the liquid refrigerant; The refrigerant liquid tank (27) is supported by the longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210), An uppermost portion (27b) of the refrigerant liquid tank (27) is located at the same position as the plane (P3) or below the plane (P3) in the vertical direction.

[0013] Thirdly, preferably, the vehicle heat source unit (17, 17A, 17B) according to the first or second aspect, a battery (49) for storing electric power for running the vehicle (11) can be cooled by cold water cooled by a refrigerant, A cold water pump (41) for pumping the cold water; a cold water cooling expansion device (24) capable of expanding the refrigerant; a cold water cooling heat exchanger (26) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant expanded by the cold water cooling expansion device (24) and the cold water, the cold water pump (41), the cold water cooling expansion device (24), and the cold water cooling heat exchanger (26) are supported by the longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210); The uppermost portions (41b, 24b, 26b) of the cold water pump (41), the cold water cooling expansion device (24), and the cold water cooling heat exchanger (26) are located at the same position as the plane (P3) or below the plane (P3) in the vertical direction.

[0014] Fourthly, preferably, the vehicle heat source unit (17, 17A, 17B) according to any one of the first to third aspects, The longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210) The longitudinal direction of the longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210) is arranged in the vehicle width direction, a bottom (81, 121) covering the hot water pump (31), the refrigerant condenser (22), the hot water heater (32), and the hot water liquid tank (34) from below; a first fixing portion (56, 130) provided at one end of the longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210) and fixable to a right rigid portion (50) of the vehicle (11); a second fixing portion (66, 140) provided at an opposite end of the longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210) and fixable to a left rigid portion (60) of the vehicle (11); The bottom portion (81, 121) is located lower than the first fixed portion (56, 130) and the second fixed portion (66, 140). Effect of the Invention

[0015] The present invention can provide a heat source unit for a vehicle that is easy to install in the front compartment of the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle thermal management system including a vehicle heat source unit according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle in which the vehicle thermal management system of FIG. 1 can be installed. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view of a support portion of the longitudinal structure of the heat source unit for a vehicle in FIG. 1 and a device supported by the support portion. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a support portion of the elongated structure and a cover member that can be hung from the support portion. FIG. [Diagram 5] Fig. 5A is a plan view of a vehicle heat source unit fixed to a vehicle, and Fig. 5B is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of a compressor relative to the vehicle heat source unit. [Figure 6] Fig. 6A is a diagram of the heat source unit for a vehicle as seen from the rear, and Fig. 6B is a diagram of the heat source unit for a vehicle as seen from the left side. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a heat source unit for a vehicle according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a front view of a heat source unit for a vehicle according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a part of a heat source unit for a vehicle according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] <Example> The embodiment will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Note that left and right refer to the left and right (vehicle width direction) based on the vehicle occupant, and front and rear refer to the front and rear based on the vehicle's traveling direction. In the drawings, Fr indicates front, Rr indicates rear, Le indicates left as seen by the occupant, Ri indicates right as seen by the occupant, Up indicates up, and Dn indicates down.

[0018] <Example 1> (Vehicle Thermal Management Systems) Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. A vehicle 11 can be equipped with a vehicle thermal management system 10 capable of conditioning the air in a vehicle compartment CR in which a passenger can ride, and cooling a battery 49 that stores power for running the vehicle 11. For ease of explanation, only a vehicle body 11a, which is the framework of the vehicle 11, is depicted in Figure 2.

[0019] The vehicle thermal management system 10 includes a refrigerant circuit 20 through which a refrigerant capable of cooling the air in the vehicle compartment CR flows, a hot water circuit 30 through which hot water capable of heating the air in the vehicle compartment CR flows, and a cold water circuit 40 through which cold water capable of cooling the battery 49 flows.

[0020] (Refrigerant circuit) The refrigerant circuit 20 includes a compressor 21 that compresses the refrigerant to a high temperature and high pressure, and a refrigerant condenser 22 that exchanges heat between the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant and hot water. The refrigerant condenser 22 is sometimes called a water condenser. The refrigerant that passes through the refrigerant condenser 22 branches into two.

[0021] One of the branched refrigerants flows into an air refrigerant expansion device 23 capable of expanding the refrigerant. The refrigerant expanded by the air refrigerant expansion device 23 flows into an air-cooling heat exchanger 25 and cools the air passing therethrough. The air cooled by the air-cooling heat exchanger 25 is supplied to the vehicle interior CR as cool air for cooling. The air-cooling heat exchanger 25 is sometimes called an evaporator.

[0022] The other of the branched refrigerants flows into a chilled water cooling expansion device 24 capable of expanding the refrigerant. The refrigerant expanded by the chilled water cooling expansion device 24 flows into a chilled water cooling heat exchanger 26 capable of cooling the chilled water by exchanging heat between the chilled water and the refrigerant. The chilled water cooling heat exchanger 26 is sometimes called a chiller.

[0023] The refrigerant that has passed through the air-cooling heat exchanger 25 and the refrigerant that has passed through the cold water-cooling heat exchanger 26 join together and are then sucked into the compressor 21.

[0024] The refrigerant circuit 20 is provided with a refrigerant liquid tank 27 that stores a portion of the refrigerant and separates the liquid refrigerant from the gaseous refrigerant. In this embodiment, the refrigerant flows out of the refrigerant condenser 22 once, passes through the refrigerant liquid tank 27, and only the liquid refrigerant flows back into the refrigerant condenser 22. By providing the refrigerant condenser 22 and the refrigerant liquid tank 27 in this manner, the liquid refrigerant can be cooled in the refrigerant condenser 22 to increase the degree of supercooling, and the cooling capacity of the air cooling heat exchanger 25 (evaporator) and the cold water cooling heat exchanger 26 (chiller) can be increased. Although not shown, the refrigerant liquid tank 27 may be disposed between the refrigerant condenser 22 and the air refrigerant expansion device 23.

[0025] (hot water circuit) The hot water circuit 30 includes a hot water pump 31 for delivering hot water, the above-mentioned refrigerant condenser 22 for exchanging heat between the hot water and the refrigerant, a hot water heater 32 for further heating the hot water heated by the refrigerant condenser 22, an air heating heat exchanger 33 for heating the air flowing through which the hot water heated by the hot water heater 32 flows, and a hot water liquid tank 34 for storing a part of the hot water that has passed through the air heating heat exchanger 33 and separating air bubbles from the hot water. The air heated by the air heating heat exchanger 33 is supplied to the vehicle interior CR as hot air for heating. The air heating heat exchanger 33 is sometimes called a hot water heater core. The hot water that has passed through the hot water liquid tank 34 flows back into the hot water pump 31. Although not shown, the hot water circuit 30 may be provided with a radiator capable of cooling the hot water by the outside air of the vehicle 11 as necessary.

[0026] (chilled water circuit) The cold water circuit 40 includes a cold water pump 41 that pumps out cold water, the above-mentioned cold water cooling heat exchanger 26 that cools the cold water with a refrigerant, and a battery cooling device 42 that can cool a battery 49 by the cold water cooled by the cold water cooling heat exchanger 26 flowing therethrough. The battery cooling device 42 includes at least a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the battery 49.

[0027] (vehicle) Referring to Fig. 2, the vehicle 11 (vehicle body 11a) includes a dash panel 12 (partition wall) that separates the vehicle interior CR from a vehicle front room BR in front of the vehicle interior CR, a right front side member 13 that is a structural member of the vehicle 11 and is provided at the lower part of the right side of the vehicle front room BR, and a left front side member 14 that is a structural member of the vehicle 11 and is provided at the lower part of the left side of the vehicle front room BR.

[0028] (Rigid parts on the left and right) The vehicle 11 further has a right rigid portion 50 having a predetermined rigidity and provided on the right side of the vehicle front room BR, and a left rigid portion 60 having a predetermined rigidity and provided on the left side of the vehicle front room BR. The left rigid portion 60, the right rigid portion 50, and the left rigid portion 60 are part of the vehicle body 11a, and together with the dash panel 12, form the space of the vehicle front room BR.

[0029] (Right front side panel) The right rigid portion 50 includes a right upper member 51 extending forward from the upper right corner of the dash panel 12, and a right front side panel 52 provided across from the right upper member 51 to the right front side member 13. The right upper member 51 and the right front side panel 52 may be joined to each other, or may be a single member formed integrally.

[0030] (Right suspension tower) The right front side panel 52 has a right suspension tower 53 provided so as to surround a part of the right front suspension (not shown). The right suspension tower 53 has a right tower part 54 extending upward from the right front side member 13, and a right top part 55 provided at the upper end of the right tower part 54 and capable of supporting the upper part of the right front suspension. The right top part 55 has a hole 55a having the same center as the axis of the right front suspension.

[0031] (Left front side panel) The left rigid portion 60 includes a left upper member 61 extending forward from the upper left corner of the dash panel 12, and a left front side panel 62 provided across from the left upper member 61 to the left front side member 14. The left upper member 61 and the left front side panel 62 may be joined to each other, or may be a single member formed integrally.

[0032] (Left suspension tower) The left front side panel 62 has a left suspension tower 63 provided so as to surround a part of the left front suspension (not shown). The left suspension tower 63 has a left tower portion 64 extending upward from the left front side member 14, and a left top portion 65 provided at the upper end of the left tower portion 64 and capable of supporting an upper portion of the left front suspension. The left top portion 65 has a hole 65a having the same center as the axis of the left front suspension.

[0033] (Air conditioning units, heat source units) Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. Some of the devices constituting the vehicle thermal management system 10 can be mounted in a unitized state on the vehicle 11. Specifically, the vehicle thermal management system 10 includes an air conditioning unit 16 that can be disposed immediately behind the dash panel 12 in the vehicle compartment CR and can condition the air in the vehicle compartment CR, and a vehicle heat source unit 17 that can be disposed in the vehicle front room BR.

[0034] (Air conditioning unit) The air conditioning unit 16 includes a case 16a that houses an air-cooling heat exchanger 25 (evaporator), an air-heating heat exchanger 33 (hot water heater core), and an air refrigerant expansion device 23.

[0035] (Heat source units for vehicles, hot water equipment) 2 and 3, the vehicle heat source unit 17 includes a hot water pump 31, a refrigerant condenser 22, a hot water heater 32, a hot water liquid tank 34, a refrigerant liquid tank 27, a cold water cooling expansion device 24, a cold water pump 41, a cold water cooling heat exchanger 26, and a longitudinal structure 18 having a longitudinal shape in which these devices are provided.

[0036] Hereinafter, the devices provided on the longitudinal structure 18 will be referred to as supported devices 26-31. The longitudinal structure 18 includes a support 70 that supports the supported devices 26-31, and a cover member 80 that covers the supported devices 26-31.

[0037] (hot water equipment) Referring to Fig. 1, the hot water pump 31, the refrigerant condenser 22, the hot water heater 32, and the hot water liquid tank 34 constitute a hot water device 30a.

[0038] (hot water heater) The hot water heater 32 is a device for further heating the hot water heated by the refrigerant condenser 22, and has at least a tank through which the hot water flows, an electric heater disposed inside the tank capable of heating the hot water, a tank hot water inlet for introducing hot water into the tank, and a tank hot water outlet for discharging hot water from the tank. The hot water heater 32 is sometimes called an electric hot water generating device or a liquid heating device.

[0039] (Support) 3, the support body 70 has a main body portion 70a (support portion) that supports the supported devices 26-31, a first fixing member 56 (first fixing portion) that is provided at an end portion on one side of the main body portion 70a and can be fixed to a right rigid portion 50 of the vehicle 11 with respect to the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the longitudinal structure 18, and a second fixing member 66 (second fixing portion) that is provided at an end portion on the opposite side of the main body portion 70a and can be fixed to a left rigid portion 60 of the vehicle 11 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal structure 18.

[0040] (Framework) The main body 70a includes two longitudinal skeletal members 71, 71 arranged approximately parallel to each other. Each skeletal member 71 is, for example, a cylindrical metal member, and each has the same length. The interval between the skeletal members 71 is not particularly strictly defined, but it is natural to set the interval slightly wider for the supported devices 26-31 that has the longest dimension in the front-to-rear direction. On the other hand, the interval between the skeletal members 71 may be set so that the supported devices 26-31 protrude forward or backward from the skeletal member 71.

[0041] (Bridge member) A plurality of bridge members 72 are bridged between the two skeletal members 71. Each bridge member 72 is, for example, a metal strip-shaped plate material. Both ends of each bridge member 72 are fixed to the skeletal member 71. The fixing method is, for example, welding or screw fastening. The skeletal member 71 and the bridge member 72 are ladder-shaped as a whole. The skeletal member 71 and the bridge member 72 may be made of any material as long as they have a predetermined strength. As an example, the bridge member 72 is preferably made of the same material as the skeletal member 71. This improves the corrosion resistance of the area where the skeletal member 71 and the bridge member 72 contact each other. Alternatively, the bridge member 72 is preferably made of a material with high insulation properties such as resin. It is possible to suppress a local battery reaction at the area where the skeletal member 71 and the bridge member 72 contact each other, thereby improving the corrosion resistance.

[0042] (Support of supported device by bridge member) Each bridging member 72 is formed with a screw through hole 74 through which a male screw 73 can pass. An upper surface 31b of a case 31a of the hot water pump 31 is formed with a female screw 79 that can be fastened to the male screw 73. The hot water pump 31 can be fixed to the bridging member 72 by overlapping the upper surface 31b of the case 31a of the hot water pump 31 with the lower surface of the bridging member 72 and fastening the female screw 73 that passes through the screw through hole 74 to the male screw 79.

[0043] Similarly, female threads 79 are formed on upper surface 34b of case 34a of hot water liquid tank 34, upper surface 32b of case 32a of hot water heater 32, upper surface 27b of case 27a of refrigerant liquid tank 27, upper surface 24b of case 24a of cold water cooling expansion device 24, upper surface 22b of case 22a of refrigerant condenser 22, upper surface 26b of case 26a of cold water cooling heat exchanger 26, and upper surface 41b of case 41a of cold water pump 41. Each device is fixed to bridge member 72 by male threads 73.

[0044] A plurality of supported devices 26 to 31 may be fixed to a single bridging member 72. The shape of the cases of the supported devices 26 to 31 is not limited to a block shape or a cylindrical shape.

[0045] (First fixing member) The first fixing member 56 includes a rigid first plate material 57. The first plate material 57 includes a plate-like first overlapping portion 57a ​​that can be overlapped with the right top portion 55 of the right suspension tower 53, a first base portion 57c that extends from an edge of the first overlapping portion 57a ​​toward the framework member 71, and two first arms 57b, 57b that extend from both ends of the first base portion 57c in the front-rear direction toward the framework member 71.

[0046] A first semi-cylindrical member 58 is joined to each of the first arm portions 57b. The first arm portions 57b and the first semi-cylindrical members 58 define a first insertion hole 59 into which one end of each of the framework members 71 can be inserted.

[0047] (Second fixing member) The second fixing member 66 includes a rigid second plate member 67. The second plate member 67 includes a plate-like second overlapping portion 67a that can be overlapped with the left top portion 65 of the left suspension tower 63, a second base portion 67c that extends from an edge of the second overlapping portion 67a toward the framework member 71, and two second arms 67b that extend from both ends of the second base portion 67c in the front-rear direction toward the framework member 71.

[0048] A second half-cylinder member 68 is joined to each of the second arm portions 67b. The second arm portions 67b and the second half-cylinder members 68 define second insertion holes 69 into which one end of each of the framework members 71 can be inserted.

[0049] (Base bending) 3 and 6, the first base portion 57c is bent relative to the first overlapping portion 57a. The second base portion 67c is bent relative to the second overlapping portion 67a. It is to be noted that the first base portion 57c and the second base portion 67c do not have to be bent.

[0050] (Dash panel fixing part) Furthermore, support body 70 has dash panel fixing member 76 (dash panel fixing portion) that can be fixed to intermediate fixing portion 15 provided at the upper end of the front surface of dash panel 12 of vehicle 11, between first fixing member 56 and second fixing member 66 and at the rear. The fixing method is, for example, screw fastening using a male screw and a female screw.

[0051] (Cover material) Please refer to Fig. 4. The cover member 80 is, for example, a box with an entire top surface that is open. In detail, the cover member 80 has a plate-shaped bottom portion 81 that can cover the lower side of the supported devices 26-31, and a peripheral wall portion 82 that extends upward from the entire edge of the bottom portion 81 and can surround the supported devices 26-31 from the sides.

[0052] The peripheral wall portion 82 has a front wall portion 83 extending upward from the front edge of the bottom portion 81 and capable of covering the front of the supported devices 26-31, a rear wall portion 84 extending upward from the rear edge of the bottom portion 81 and capable of covering the rear of the supported devices 26-31, a left wall portion 86 extending upward from the left edge of the bottom portion 81 and capable of covering the left side of the supported devices 26-31, and a right wall portion 85 extending upward from the right edge of the bottom portion 81 and capable of covering the right side of the supported devices 26-31. Note that the cover member 80 is a single member made of resin, but a plurality of plate materials may be prepared and joined together to form a box shape.

[0053] (Hanging the cover using an S-hook) A plurality of hook holes 88 are formed in the upper ends of the front wall portion 83 and the rear wall portion 84 of the cover member 80, aligned along the longitudinal direction. The lower ends of the S-shaped hooks 75 are hooked into the respective hook holes 88, and the upper ends of the S-shaped hooks 75 are hooked onto the framework member 71. With the above configuration, the cover member 80 can be suspended from the framework member 71, and the vehicle heat source unit 17 shown in FIG. 1 is completed. Note that the longitudinal structure 18 may not include the cover member 80, and may be only the support body 70.

[0054] (Method of fixing a vehicle heat source unit to a vehicle body) 2 and 3, a plurality of screw through holes 56b through which male screws 78 can pass are formed in the first overlapping portion 57a ​​of the first fixing member 56. The first fixing member 56 can be fixed by overlapping the first overlapping portion 57a ​​with the right top portion 55 of the right suspension tower 53 of the vehicle 11 and fastening the male screws 78 with the female screws 56b.

[0055] Similarly, a plurality of screw through holes 66b are formed in the second overlapping portion 67a of the second fixing member 66, through which the male screws 78 can pass. The second fixing member 66 can be fixed by overlapping the second overlapping portion 67a with the right top portion 65 of the left suspension tower 63 of the vehicle 11 and fastening the male screws 78 with the female screws 65b.

[0056] (Location of vehicle heat source unit) With the above configuration, the vehicle heat source unit 17 fixed to the vehicle body 11a is disposed so that the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal structure 18 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "longitudinal direction") is the vehicle width direction.

[0057] (Arrangement of supported devices 26 to 31) 5A, the arrangement of supported devices 26-31 in a plan view looking down on vehicle heat source unit 17 from above will be described. Refrigerant condenser 22, hot water heater 32, and hot water liquid tank 34 are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction of elongated structure 18.

[0058] In addition, the hot water pump 31 is arranged in line along the longitudinal direction together with the refrigerant condenser 22, the hot water heater 32, and the hot water liquid tank 34. The hot water liquid tank 34 is arranged between the hot water heater 32 and the hot water pump 31.

[0059] The refrigerant condenser 22 may be disposed between the hot water pump 31 and the hot water heater 32. Although the supported devices 26-31 are illustrated as being separated from (not in contact with) the peripheral wall portion 82 of the cover member 80, they may be in contact with the cover member 80.

[0060] (Compressor location) Refer to Fig. 5B. The area where the refrigerant condenser 22 is projected with respect to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in this embodiment) of the longitudinal structure 18 is defined as a projection area R. In other words, the projection area R is an area (space) between a first plane P1 including one end of the refrigerant condenser 22 and a second plane P2 including the opposite end of the refrigerant condenser 22 with respect to the longitudinal direction. The compressor 21 overlaps the projection area R (is located inside the projection area R) and is disposed in front of the vehicle heat source unit 17.

[0061] At least a part of the compressor 21 may overlap the projection region R. The direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in the embodiment) of the longitudinal structure 18 is not limited to the front-rear direction. The compressor 21 may be disposed above, below, or behind the vehicle heat source unit 17.

[0062] (Position of compressor suction port and discharge port) The compressor 21 has a refrigerant suction port 21b that draws in a refrigerant and a refrigerant discharge port 21a that discharges the refrigerant. The refrigerant suction port 21b and the refrigerant discharge port 21a are arranged so as to overlap with each other. The refrigerant suction port 21b and the refrigerant discharge port 21a face rearward and are aligned in the left-right direction, but the orientation and positions of the ports can be changed.

[0063] (Refrigerant condenser orientation) The refrigerant condenser 22 is formed by stacking a plurality of refrigerant condensation plates 28. Although detailed structural description is omitted, at least two types of refrigerant condensation plates 28 are prepared, and by stacking them alternately, a passage through which only the refrigerant passes and a passage through which only hot water passes are formed. The stacking direction of the refrigerant condensation plates 28 is along the width direction (front-rear direction) of the longitudinal structure 18.

[0064] (Direction of heat exchanger for cooling water) The cold water cooling heat exchanger 26 is formed by stacking a plurality of cold water cooling plates 29. Although detailed structural description is omitted, at least two types of cold water cooling plates 29 are prepared, and by stacking them alternately, a passage through which only the refrigerant passes and a passage through which only cold water passes are formed. The stacking direction of the cold water cooling plates 29 is along the width direction (front-rear direction) of the longitudinal structure 18.

[0065] (Height direction arrangement of supported equipment) Refer to Fig. 6A. A plane including the uppermost part 18a located at the top of the longitudinal structure 18 and having a normal direction in the vertical direction is defined as an upper reference plane P3. The supported devices 26-31 are located below the upper reference plane P3. In other words, the supported devices 26-31 do not protrude upward from the longitudinal structure 18. Note that the supported devices 26-31 are illustrated as being separated from (not in contact with) the bottom part 81 of the cover member 80, but may be in contact with the cover member 80.

[0066] (Arrangement of bottom of cover member) The bottom portion 81 of the cover member 80 is located lower than the first fixing member 56 and the second fixing member 66 .

[0067] (Plumbing) Referring to Fig. 1, the vehicle heat source unit 17 includes internal connection pipes (no reference numeral) that connect the supported devices 26-31 to each other, and external connection pipes 91-98 that can connect the supported devices 26-31 to external devices (devices other than the supported devices 26-31). The supported devices 26-31 are separated from each other (the cases of the supported devices 26-31 are not in contact with each other).

[0068] (Hot water pipe location) The external connection pipes 91-98 include a first hot water pipe 91 through which hot water flows toward the air-heating heat exchanger 33 of the vehicle interior CR, and a second hot water pipe 92 through which hot water that has passed through the air-heating heat exchanger 33 of the vehicle interior CR flows. The first hot water pipe 91 is connected to, for example, the hot water heater 32. The second hot water pipe 92 is connected to, for example, the hot water liquid tank 34.

[0069] 6A and 6B. The first hot water pipe 91 and the second hot water pipe 92 pass through a piping hole 89 formed in the rear wall portion 84 and are bent in a crank shape. The outlet 91a of the first hot water pipe 91 and the inlet 92a of the second hot water pipe 92 both face rearward and are located below the bottom portion 81 and behind the rear wall portion 84.

[0070] (Position of refrigerant pipe) Referring to Fig. 1, the external connection pipes 91-98 include a first refrigerant pipe 93 through which the refrigerant that has passed through the refrigerant liquid tank 27 flows toward the air-cooling heat exchanger 25, and a second refrigerant pipe 94 through which the refrigerant that has passed through the air-cooling heat exchanger 25 flows.

[0071] 6A and 6B, the first refrigerant pipe 93 and the second refrigerant pipe 94 pass through a piping hole 89 formed in the rear wall portion 84 and are bent in a crank shape. An outlet 93a of the first refrigerant pipe 93 and an inlet 94a of the second refrigerant pipe 94 face rearward and are located lower than the bottom portion 81 and rearward than the rear wall portion 84.

[0072] (Position of cold water pipe) Referring to Fig. 1, the external connection pipes 91-98 include a first cold water pipe 95 through which cold water that has passed through the cold water cooling heat exchanger 26 flows toward the battery 49, and a second cold water pipe 96 through which cold water that has passed through the battery cooling device 42 flows.

[0073] The first cold water pipe 95 and the second cold water pipe 96 pass through a piping hole 89 formed in the bottom 81. See Figures 6A and 6B. An outlet 95a of the first cold water pipe 95 and an inlet 96a of the second cold water pipe 96 face downward and are located below the bottom 81.

[0074] (Connection pipe position) 5B, the external connecting pipes 91-98 include a suction side connecting pipe 97 having an outlet 97a connectable to the refrigerant suction port 21b, and a discharge side connecting pipe 98 having an inlet 98a connectable to the refrigerant discharge port 21a. The outlet 97a of the suction side connecting pipe 97 and the inlet 98a of the discharge side connecting pipe 98 both face forward.

[0075] (First effect) Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. A vehicle thermal management system 10 has a vehicle heat source unit 17 that can be arranged inside a vehicle front room BR of a vehicle 11, which is forward of a vehicle compartment CR in which passengers board.

[0076] The vehicle heat source unit 17 includes a hot water device 30a including a hot water pump 31 that delivers hot water capable of heating the air to be blown into the vehicle compartment CR, a refrigerant condenser 22 that exchanges heat between the hot water and a refrigerant capable of cooling the air to be blown into the vehicle compartment CR, a hot water heater 32 that can further heat the hot water heated by the refrigerant condenser 22, and a hot water liquid tank 34 that stores a portion of the hot water and separates air bubbles from the hot water. The vehicle heat source unit 17 further includes a longitudinal structure 18 that supports the hot water device 30a.

[0077] Please refer to Figures 3 and 6A. The uppermost part of the longitudinal structure 18 is the uppermost part 18a (in the embodiment, for example, the end of the first fixing member 56 and the end of the second fixing member 66 are the uppermost part 18a). A plane including the uppermost part 18a and having the vertical direction as a normal direction is the upper reference plane P3. The uppermost parts of the hot water pump 31, the refrigerant condenser 22, the hot water heater 32, and the hot water liquid tank 34 (in the embodiment, the uppermost parts are the upper surfaces 31b, 22b, 32b, and 34b of each case) are located below the upper reference plane P3. The upper surfaces 31b, 22b, 32b, and 34b may be located at the same position as the upper reference plane P3.

[0078] That is, the vehicle heat source unit 17 is configured such that the water heater 30a does not protrude upward from the upper reference plane P3. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 6B, even if a longitudinal member 19 (e.g., a pedestrian airbag or a cowl) is provided over the entire width of the vehicle at the rear upper portion of the vehicle front room BR, the water heater 30a does not interfere with the longitudinal member 19, and the vehicle heat source unit 17 can be disposed below the longitudinal member 19. The vehicle heat source unit 17 is suitable for being disposed in the vehicle front room BR. This effect is also achieved in Example 2 described later.

[0079] (Second effect) The vehicle heat source unit 17 is provided with a refrigerant liquid tank 27 that stores a portion of the refrigerant and separates gaseous refrigerant from liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant liquid tank 27 is supported by the longitudinal structure 18. An upper surface 27b (top) of the refrigerant liquid tank 27 is located below the upper reference plane P3. Even when the vehicle heat source unit 17 is provided with the refrigerant liquid tank 27, the vehicle heat source unit 17 is suitable for being placed in the vehicle front room BR. Note that the upper surface 27b may be located at the same position as the upper reference plane P3.

[0080] (Third Effect) Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. A battery 49 that stores power for driving the vehicle 11 can be cooled by cold water cooled by a refrigerant. The vehicle heat source unit 17 includes a cold water pump 41 that delivers cold water, a cold water cooling expansion device 24 that can expand the refrigerant, and a cold water cooling heat exchanger 26 that exchanges heat between the refrigerant expanded by the cold water cooling expansion device 24 and the cold water.

[0081] Please refer to Figures 3 and 6A. The cold water pump 41, the cold water cooling expansion device 24, and the cold water cooling heat exchanger 26 are supported by the longitudinal structure 18. Furthermore, the uppermost parts (upper surfaces 41b, 24b, 26b) of these devices 41, 24, 26 are located below the upper reference plane P3. Even if the vehicle heat source unit 17 includes the cold water pump 41, the cold water cooling expansion device 24, and the cold water cooling heat exchanger 26, the vehicle heat source unit 17 is suitable for being disposed in the vehicle front room BR. The upper surfaces 41b, 24b, 26b may be located at the same position as the upper reference plane P3.

[0082] (Fourth Effect) 6A. The longitudinal structure 18 is disposed so that the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal structure 18 is the vehicle width direction (left-right direction). Furthermore, the longitudinal structure 18 has a bottom 81 covering the lower side of the supported devices 26-31 (which may include at least the hot water pump 31, the refrigerant condenser 22, the hot water heater 32, and the hot water liquid tank 34), a first fixing member 56 provided at one end of the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal structure 18 and fixable to the right rigid part 50 of the vehicle 11, and a second fixing member 66 provided at the opposite end of the longitudinal structure 18 and fixable to the left rigid part 60 of the vehicle 11. The bottom 81 is located below the first fixing member 56 and the second fixing member 66.

[0083] That is, by fixing the first fixing member 56 and the second fixing member 66 to the right rigid portion 50 and the left rigid portion 60 of the vehicle 11, the position of the bottom 81 between the first fixing member 56 and the second fixing member 66 can be set low, and the space of the vehicle front room BR can be effectively utilized. In addition, the supported devices 26-31 including the water heating device 30a are disposed lower, preventing the center of gravity of the vehicle 11 from becoming higher, and improving driving stability.

[0084] <Example 2> 7 and 8 are referenced. A description will be given of a heat source unit for a vehicle 17A according to the embodiment 2. The same reference numerals as those in the embodiment 1 are used for the configurations common to the heat source unit for a vehicle 17 according to the embodiment 1, and the description will be omitted.

[0085] (Longitudinal structure) The vehicle heat source unit 17A includes a longitudinal structural body 120 on which the supported devices 26-31 are provided. The longitudinal structural body 120 is in the shape of a longitudinal box whose entire upper surface is open, and includes a support portion 120a that supports the supported devices 26-31, and a first fixing portion 130 and a second fixing portion 140 provided on both ends of the support portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0086] (Support part) The support portion 120a has a plate-shaped bottom portion 121 extending in the longitudinal direction and capable of covering the lower portion of the supported devices 26-31, and a peripheral wall portion 122 extending upward from the entire edge of the bottom portion 121 and surrounding the supported devices 26-31.

[0087] The peripheral wall portion 122 has a front wall portion 123 extending upward from the front edge of the bottom portion 121 and capable of covering the front of the supported devices 26-31, a rear wall portion 124 extending upward from the rear edge of the bottom portion 121 and capable of covering the rear of the supported devices 26-31, a left wall portion 126 extending upward from the left edge of the bottom portion 121 and capable of covering the left side of the supported devices 26-31, and a right wall portion 125 extending upward from the right edge of the bottom portion 121 and capable of covering the right side of the supported devices 26-31.

[0088] (1st fixed part) The first fixing portion 130 is a plate-like portion having a first overlapping portion 131 that can be overlapped with the right top portion 55 (see FIG. 2), and a first base portion 132 that connects the edge of the first overlapping portion 131 and the upper edge of the right wall portion 125. The first base portion 132 is bent with respect to the first overlapping portion 131.

[0089] (Second fixed part) The second fixing portion 140 is a plate-like portion having a second overlapping portion 141 that can be overlapped with the left apex portion 65 (see FIG. 2) and a second base portion 142 that connects the edge of the second overlapping portion 141 and the upper edge of the left wall portion 126. The second base portion 142 is bent with respect to the second overlapping portion 141.

[0090] All the above-mentioned parts 121-126, 130-132, 140-142 are continuously formed of the same material (for example, resin). The longitudinal structure 120 is a single member. This allows the longitudinal structure 120 to be manufactured by injection molding, facilitating production. Alternatively, if it is possible to manufacture the longitudinal structure 120 by injection molding, it may be formed in layers of multiple members. By injection molding the longitudinal structure 120 in layers together with a material that can improve strength, it is possible to reinforce the entire longitudinal structure 120. Alternatively, it may be formed by connecting multiple different members using a well-known two-color molding technique. By two-color molding the first base portion 132 and the second base portion 141 using a material that is more flexible than the support portion 120a, the influence on the rigidity of the vehicle 11 can be more reliably suppressed.

[0091] (Method of supporting supported device) Please refer to Figures 7 and 8. The supported devices 26 to 31 are supported on the longitudinal structure by screw fastening, as in the first embodiment. A screw through hole is formed in the bottom 121, through which the male screw 101 can pass. A female screw is formed in the lower surface 31c of the hot water pump 31, through which the male screw 101 can be fastened. The hot water pump 31 can be fixed to the bottom 121 by placing the lower surface 31c of the hot water pump 31 on the upper surface 121a of the bottom 121 and fastening the male screw 101 that has passed through the screw through hole.

[0092] Similarly, the underside 34c of the hot water liquid tank 34, the underside 32c of the hot water heater 32, the underside 27c of the refrigerant liquid tank 27, the underside 22c of the refrigerant condenser 22, the underside 26c of the cold water cooling heat exchanger 26, and the underside 41c of the cold water pump 41 are each formed with a female thread (not shown) and fixed by a male thread 101.

[0093] (Arrangement of supported equipment) The supported devices 26-31 are all housed in the elongated structure 120. In other words, the supported devices 26-31 do not protrude upward from the edge of the opening of the box. Note that the supported devices 26-31 may protrude from the opening of the box.

[0094] The elongated structure 120 is preferably provided with a drain hole (not shown) at any position of the plate-like bottom 121. When water or other liquid components are unintentionally accumulated inside the elongated structure 120, they can be effectively drained.

[0095] <Example 3> 9, a vehicle heat source unit 17B according to a third embodiment will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described.

[0096] The longitudinal structure 210 of the heat source unit 17B has a bottom extension 212 extending forward from a part of the front edge 211 of the bottom 211 of the main body 210. The bottom extension 212 supports the compressor 21 by a male screw 101 that fastens to a female screw formed on the lower surface of the compressor 21. The bottom extension 212 has an extension side wall 213 that extends upward from the edge of the bottom extension 212. The extension side wall 213 surrounds the compressor 21 except for the rear, and is connected to the front wall 123. Note that the portion that supports the compressor 21 is not limited to the bottom extension 212.

[0097] As long as the functions and effects of the present invention are achieved, the present invention is not limited to the examples.

[0098] For example, the refrigerant circuit 20 has been described as one in which the refrigerant that has passed through the refrigerant condenser 22 branches into two, but it may also be one in which the refrigerant does not branch and flows into the air-cooling heat exchanger 25. In this case, the vehicle heat source unit 17 does not include the cold water cooling expansion device 24, the cold water cooling heat exchanger 26, or the cold water pump 41. This vehicle heat source unit 17 does not include a function of cooling the battery 49, but still has a function of supplying refrigerant to the air-cooling heat exchanger 25 and a function of supplying hot water to the air-heating heat exchanger 33. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 10. Vehicle thermal management system 11…vehicle, 11a…car body 17, 17A, 17B...Heat source unit for vehicle 18,120,210…Longitudinal structure 22...refrigerant condenser, 22b...upper surface (top) of the refrigerant condenser 24...cold water cooling expansion device, 24b...upper surface (top) of the cold water cooling expansion device 26...Heat exchanger for cooling cold water, 26b...Top surface (top) of heat exchanger for cooling cold water 27...refrigerant liquid tank, 27b...upper surface (top) of refrigerant liquid tank 30a…Hot water device 31...hot water pump, 31b...top surface (top) of hot water pump 32...hot water heater, 32b...upper surface (top) of hot water heater 34...hot water liquid tank, 34b...top surface (top) of hot water liquid tank 41... cold water pump, 41b... upper surface (top) of the cold water pump 49…Battery 50…Right rigid part 56, 130...First fixing member (first fixing portion) 60…Left rigid part 66, 140...Second fixing member (second fixing portion) BR: Vehicle front room P3…Top reference plane (plane)

Claims

1. A vehicle heat source unit (17) that can be arranged inside a vehicle front room (BR) of a vehicle (11) that is forward of a vehicle compartment (CR) in which passengers board, a hot water device (30a) including a hot water pump (31) that delivers hot water capable of heating the air to be blown into the vehicle compartment (CR), a refrigerant condenser (22) that performs heat exchange between the hot water and a refrigerant capable of cooling the air to be blown into the vehicle compartment (CR), a hot water heater (32) that can further heat the hot water heated by the refrigerant condenser (22), and a hot water liquid tank (34) that stores a portion of the hot water and separates air bubbles from the hot water; A longitudinal structural body (18, 120, 210) supporting the hot water device (30a), Based on a plane (P3) including the uppermost part (18a) located at the top of the longitudinal structure (18) and having a normal direction in the vertical direction, A vehicle heat source unit (17, 17A, 17B), in which the tops (31b, 22b, 32b, 34b) of the hot water pump (31), the refrigerant condenser (22), the hot water heater (32), and the hot water liquid tank (34) are located at the same position as the plane (P3) in the vertical direction or below the plane (P3).

2. a refrigerant liquid tank (27) for storing a portion of the refrigerant and separating the gaseous refrigerant from the liquid refrigerant; The refrigerant liquid tank (27) is supported by the longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210), 2. The vehicle heat source unit (17, 17A, 17B) according to claim 1, wherein a top (27b) of the refrigerant liquid tank (27) is located at the same position as the plane (P3) in the vertical direction or below the plane (P3).

3. A battery (49) that stores electric power for driving the vehicle (11) can be cooled by cold water cooled by a refrigerant, A cold water pump (41) for pumping the cold water; A cold water cooling expansion device (24) capable of expanding the refrigerant; a cold water cooling heat exchanger (26) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant expanded by the cold water cooling expansion device (24) and the cold water, The cold water pump (41), the cold water cooling expansion device (24), and the cold water cooling heat exchanger (26) are supported by the longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210); The vehicle heat source unit (17, 17A, 17B) according to claim 2, wherein the uppermost portions (41b, 24b, 26b) of the cold water pump (41), the cold water cooling expansion device (24), and the cold water cooling heat exchanger (26) are located at the same position as the plane (P3) in the vertical direction or below the plane (P3).

4. The longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210) The longitudinal direction of the longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210) is arranged in the vehicle width direction, a bottom (81, 121) covering the lower sides of the hot water pump (31), the refrigerant condenser (22), the hot water heater (32), and the hot water liquid tank (34); a first fixing portion (56, 130) provided at one end of the longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210) and fixable to a right rigid portion (50) of the vehicle (11); a second fixing portion (66, 140) provided at an opposite end of the longitudinal structure (18, 120, 210) and fixable to a left rigid portion (60) of the vehicle (11); The vehicle heat source unit (17, 17A, 17B) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bottom (81, 121) is located lower than the first fixed portion (56, 130) and the second fixed portion (66, 140).

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